Shoe-pressing machine.



F. RAMPICHINI.

SHOE PRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20. I912- 1,244,776. v Patented Oct. 30, 1911.

FRANCESCO BAMPICHINI, 0F TRIESTE,

AUSTRIA, ASSIGNOR, T0 AGO LEDERKIT'I INDUSTRIE GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG, OF TRIESTE, AUSTRIA,

A conrona'rxon or nus'rnm.

SHOE-BRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 39, 1917..

Application filed August 20, 1912. Serial No. 716,061.

To all whom it may concern Be it lcnown that I, FRANCESCO RAM- PICHINI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at No. 11 Via Barriera, in the city of Trieste, Austria, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Shoe- Pressing Machines, of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to apparatus especially adapted for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes; and its object is to provide a press having a semi-plastic support for the shoes, whereby the leather pieces to be united by an adhesive can be pressed together in a perfect manner. The invention will be hereinafter fully explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention with a shoe clamped therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the'line 33 Fig. 2.

The cushion which forms the supporting and pressing'surface for the sole of the shoe, consists of a frame or case K of any desired form, the sides and the bottom of which may be made of any suitable rigid and resisting material. In the example shown the bottom K is provided with an inner metal plate K increasing its strength (Figs. 2 and 3). The upper side of this frame is covered with one or more layers of canvas, or other suitable flexible material. This cover B may be attached directly or indirectly, and is shown as attached to a metal rim R fixed to the frame. The said cover is of such size that shoes. of different forms and sizes can be operated on by the cushion. The cover R is preferably undulated to correspond with the curvature of the lower face of the average soles of the shoes.

The frame is filled under the cover with a semi-plastic mass T bodies, preferably spherical or rounded in f0rm, for example grain or sand, or a pulverized solid material, such as talc, graphite or the like. In ractice I have used rice for filling the cushion, the smooth surface of the rice rendering the mass mobile, so that the cover will readily conform to the surface consisting of small I of the sole, when a shoe is first placed on the cushion with a low pressure. The solid substances in the mass can be mixed with a liquid to form a semi-fluid mass, for example, graphite, talc, granular materials may be moistened with water, glycerin, oil,'fat,

' soft soapor the like.

Such contents produce a semiplastic cushion whose volume changes .very little under pressure. When a slight initial pressure is given to the cushion by objects placed and pressed on its cover, the cushion takes the shape of the pressure is exerted that the friction in the mass rises to such point that the grains will not further shift but will form a rigid or compact mass. If a high pressure is now applied to press the cushion toward the shoe, a practically uniform pressure will act on all contacting places of the sole, which is most desirable to insure the sure connection of the leather pieces.

The action of such semi-plastic cushion is more perfect and more advantageous than that of elastic rubber cushions, or of cushions with metallic springs; because the cushion being semi-plastic and capable of assuming the form of the sole, the distribution of pressure is uniform; and the volume of the cushion remains constant, and great pressure with very little displacement of its surface can be obtained. Such cushion is also superior to pneumatic or hydraulic cushions in which the mobility of the contents cannot be suppressed under higher pressures by the action of friction, and the pressure transmitted will be greater on the sole than on the middle part thereof, which causes the edge of the sole to bend toward the sides of the upper.

A semi-plastic cushion is also provided to hold the fore end of the shoe; this toe clamping cushion comprises a flexible bag R attached to a block J and filled-with a semi-plastic mass T similar to that in the cushion K. Such clamping cushion will conform to the upper of the shoe 0, or of the last L inserted in the latter, and transmit a uniform pressure over the entire contacting surface, thus preventing injury of the leather.

The aforesaid semi-plastic cushion and clamp can be utilized to iuunovably clamp impressed surface of the .ob ect or shoe, and retains same until such the edges of objects with soft or sensible surfaces; but is especially useful in the manufacture of shoes and boots for securing shoes in machines operating thereon, and can be used in machines for gluing leather, with adhesives not soluble in Water, because the high equal pressure obtained. thereby insures a perfect connection of the different pieces.

In the drawing thenovel semi-plastic cushion and clamp are shown in connection with an apparatus or press for gluing soles to shoes.

The stand of such press is composed of a frame C, D, E, F, having legs Q; and two pairs of uprights G, G, H, H. The lower ends of the pairs of uprights G, G, and H, H, are connected by yokes P and P respectively; each yoke having a vertically ad- .justable screw, as shown at V and V The box K of the semi-plastic cushion fits easily within thelframe C, D, E, F, so that the cushion can move only vertically, and

can be displaced either upward or downward by operating the screws V and V which support the box K.

Between the pairs of uprights G, G, and H, H, are adjustable cross-bars W and W to the ends of which are pivoted metal clamps that embrace the adjacent uprights. WVhen the clamps are turned to a horizontal position, the cross-bars can be freely moved up and down along the uprights, but when the clamps are released they assume their inclined operative positions (Fig. 2) by gravity. \Vhenupward pressure is applied to the cross-bars, the clamps will hold them to the uprights against upward movement, as will readily be understood from Figs. 1 and 2.

To the rear cross-bar W is attached a stay or support I that bears on the rear part of the last L inserted in the shoe; while to the front cross-bar is attached a block J carrying the clamping cushion above described.

The press may be varied in different ways without altering its operation, for instance, instead of the screws V and V other well known means for producing displacement and exerting pressure may be employed.

The press is operated as follows: The boot or shoe 0 having its sole S prepared for gluing, is placed on the cushion K. The cross-bars W, W are then inserted between the uprights G, H, respectively, and allowed to slide down far enough to cause the stay I and clamping cushion It to rest on the rear and toe of the boot or shoe as shown. The cushion K is thereupon moved upward by means of the screws V, V until the parts to be glued together have received sufficient pressure. To remove the boot or shoe from the press, the semi-plastic cushion is first lowered, whereupon the cross-bars IV, IV can be removed, and the shoe withdrawn.

A semi-plastic mass or filling, as such expressions are employed herein, .may include any suitable material, of granular character whose individual parts are easily movable upon or in contact one with another, such as grains of sand or rice or other grain adapted to form a mass capable of being molded or fashioned, under initial pres sure, by the shifting of the particles of the mass, so as to conform to the shape or surface of the sole of a shoe or other object to be pressed, and under increased pressure, due to increased friction, to retain the shape of the impressed surface, so that a practically uniform pressure may be exerted over the contacting surface of the object, thereby insuring a perfect and firm connection between pieces of leather or other material to be united by adhesive substances. The plasticity of a mass of granulated or pulverized solid substances may be increased by mixing therewith a liquid or moistening the same so as to form a semi-fluid mass, which would also be included in the expressions semi-plastic mass or semi-plastic material.

I claim:

1. A plastic support or cushion for the purpose specified, comprising a box, a mass of solid substances of granular character inclosed therein, a rim attached to the box having an opening of substantially the contour of the objects to be treated, and a flexible cover attached to the rim at its edges and closing the opening.

2. In an apparatus adapted for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, the combination of a cushion having a filling of semiplastic material adapted to'support an object to be pressed; a clamping cushion having a filling of semi-plastic material, and means for causing said cushions to clamp an object therebetween.

3. In an apparatus, adapted for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, the combination of a cushion. having a flexible cover and a semi-plastic filling, said cushion being adapted to support an object to be pressed; a clamping cushion also having a filling of semi-plastic material, and means for causing said cushions to clamp an object interposed therebetween.

4. In an apparatus adapted for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes the combination of a frame, a supporting cushion thcrein comprising a rigid box having a flexible cover and a scmi-plastic filling, and a clamping cushion comprising a bag or flexible portion also filled with semi-plastic material, and means for causing said cushion to clamp an object between them.

5. In combination with a frame, a su porting cushion therein comprising a rigid box having a flexible cover and a semi-plastic filling; a clamping cushion comprising a bag or flexible portion also filled with for said clamping CHShlOIl, and means for bodily moving the box toward the clamping cushion.

6. A clamping frame, a vertically movable cushion thereon, and means for moving said cushion; a pair the box, a toe-clamp cushion attached to one bar, and a stay attached to the other bar, and gravity-actuated clamps pivoted on said adjustable bars and embracing guide bars of the framefor fixing the said adjustable bars to the guiding frame under the pressure applied to the cushion, substantially as described.

apparatus comprising a of vertically adjustable bars above 7;. A clamping apparatus comprising a v frame, a vertically movable box thereon, a flexible cover for said box, and a semi-plastic filling in said box; a pair, of vertically adjustable bars above the box, a toe-clamp cushion of semi-plastic material attached to one bar, and a stay attached to the other bar; and means for moving said box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCESCO RAll/IPICHINI.

Witnesses:

FREDERIOO HERMAN, VINCENT Bonus. 

